Portable sheet metal bending apparatus

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to an apparatus that is a portable sheet metal apparatus generally for bending sheet metal and more particularly to an apparatus for forming a gutter guard assembly ready to be installed between the outer lip of a rain gutter and a first row of shingles on a shingled roof. Said apparatus comprising a first bending member having a cylindrical bar, a second bending member hinged to the first bending member to provide a means for bending the sheet metal, said second bending member having an angled portion, leg portions, and at least one handle member, wherein pulling the handle member forward and downward provides the application of both pressing and releasing forces against a work piece sheet metal as it is bent between said cylindrical bar of the first bending member and the angled portion of the second bending member.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS:

[0001] U.S. Provisional Application for Patent No. 60/354,404, filed Feb. 7, 2002, with title “Portable Sheet Metal Bending Apparatus” which is hereby incorporated by reference. Applicant claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. Par. 119(e)(i).

[0002] Statement as to rights to inventions made under Federally sponsored research and development: Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] 1. Field of the Invention.

[0004] This invention relates to an apparatus that is a portable sheet metal apparatus generally for bending sheet metal and more particularly to an apparatus for forming a gutter guard assembly ready to be installed between the outer lip of a rain gutter and a first row of shingles on a shingled roof.

[0005] 2. Brief Description of Prior Arts

[0006] In the construction industry and particularly the siding and gutter installation industry, it has become customary to install gutter guards with rain gutters installed on homes and businesses. These gutter guards have become very popular insofar as their usefulness in allowing rain water entry into the gutter system while blocking other materials such as fallen leaves from entering the gutter system and clogging the system.

[0007] Prior art methods exist for bending sheet metal for various uses; however, the inventor is unaware of a portable apparatus for forming ready to be installed gutter guard assemblies. Further, the sheet metal bending tools of prior art are overly complex to manufacture, and not efficient, both mechanically and economically, for this particular industry.

[0008] Therefore, a need exists for a less complicated sheet metal bending apparatus for forming a ready to be installed gutter guard assembly. As will be seen from the subsequent description, the preferred embodiments of the present invention overcome these and other shortcomings of prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The present invention is a portable sheet metal bending apparatus generally for bending sheet metal, preferably fabricated from aluminum stock sheet, and more particularly to an apparatus for forming a ready to be installed gutter guard assembly between the outer lip of a rain gutter and a first row of shingles on a shingled roof. The preferred embodiment includes a first bending member, a second bending member hinged to the first bending member to provide a means for bending the sheet metal, at least two leg portions attached to opposing ends of the first bending member, and at least one handle member attached to the second bending member. The first bending member being stationary during the bending application, and the second member pivotally positioned in relation to the stationary first bending member during the bending application by manipulating the handle member. The first bending member includes opposing end members disposed on substantially opposite ends of the first bending member, said opposing end members receive a generally cylindrical bar. Said cylindrical bar is positioned slightly higher than the first bending member defining an opening between the bar and the first bending member. Said opening adapted to receive an end portion of a work piece of sheet metal for bending. A shoulder portion is further disposed on the upper surface of the first bending member, said shoulder portion is provided at the approximate juncture of where the bar extends over the first bending member. The second bending member includes an angle member disposed in the midway of the second bending member and projects horizontally the length of the second bending member.

[0010] In general, a work piece of sheet metal is inserted in the opening between the first bending member and the cylindrical bar until the sheet metal abuts the shoulder portion. The user lifts the handle member thereby pivotally lifting the second bending member causing the angle member to engage the work piece of sheet metal forming a curved bend in the work piece of sheet metal. Said curved bend in the sheet metal begins by pressing the sheet metal against the cylindrical bar and by continually lifting the handle member until the surface of the sheet metal is in flush contact with a first side of the angle member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a portable sheet metal bending apparatus.

[0012]FIG. 2 is an exploded side view of the apparatus and FIG. 1 in an open position.

[0013]FIG. 3 is an exploded side view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 in an intermediate position.

[0014]FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 in an advanced position.

[0015]FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a work piece of sheet metal formed utilizing the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0016] In accordance with the present invention, a portable sheet metal bending apparatus is disclosed. The bending apparatus of the present invention for use in forming a gutter guard assembly ready to be installed between the outer lip of a rain gutter and a first row of shingles on a shingled roof. Specifically, it will be noted in the drawings that the bending apparatus relates to bending sheet metal to install as gutter guards with rain gutters. In the broadest context, the bending apparatus consists of components configured and correlated with respect to each other so as to attain the desired objective.

[0017] FIGS. 1-5 illustrate a preferred embodiment of a portable sheet metal bending apparatus 10 made in accordance with the present invention. Said portable sheet metal bending apparatus 10 for forming a gutter guard assembly 200 (shown in FIG. 5) ready to be installed between an outer lip of a rain gutter (not shown) and a first row of shingles on a shingled roof (not shown).

[0018] As shown in FIG. 1, the bending apparatus 10 includes a first bending member 20 having a lower surface 22 and an upper surface 25. A second bending member 40 is hinged to the first bending member 20 to provide a means for bending the sheet metal. The first bending member 20 being the approximate length and width as the second bending member 40.

[0019] The bending apparatus 10 further includes at least two leg portions 60 attached to opposing ends of the lower surface 22 of the first bending member 20, said leg portions 60 to support the bending apparatus 10 above the floor or work area, and at least one handle member 80 releasably attached to the second bending member 40. Said at least one handle member 80 having a substantially cylindrical configuration. Further, while the drawings illustrate the bending apparatus 10 having a single handle member 80 attached to an end of the second bending member 40, it should be understood that more than one handle members 80 may be selectively disposed along the length of the second bending member 40.

[0020] As will be further described, the first bending member 20 is stationary during the bending application. The second bending member 40 is pivotally positioned in relation to the stationary first bending member 20 during the bending application by manipulating the handle member 80.

[0021] The first bending member 20 includes opposing end members 30 disposed on substantially opposite ends of the upper surface 25 of the first bending member 20. The opposing end members 30 receive a generally cylindrical bar 32 disposed along the longitudinal axis of the upper surface 25. Said bar 32 is positioned slightly higher than the upper surface 25 of the first bending member 20 defining an opening 35 between the bar 32 and the upper surface 25 of the first bending member 20, said opening 35 adapted to receive an end portion of a workpiece of sheet metal 100 for bending. A shoulder portion 37 is further disposed on the upper surface 25 of the first bending member 20, said shoulder portion 37 is provided at the approximate juncture of where the bar 32, extends over the first bending member 20. Said shoulder portion 37 extends horizontally the approximate length of the bar 32.

[0022] The opening 35, the cylindrical bar 32 and the shoulder portion 37 of the first bending member 20 defining a receiving area 39 for receiving the workpiece of sheet metal 100 for bending. As will be discussed, the workpiece of sheet metal 100 is placed in the receiving area 39 by inserting the sheet metal 100 within the opening 35 between the upper surface 25 and the bar 32 until the sheet metal 100 is in contact with the shoulder portion 37.

[0023] The second bending member 40 includes a lower surface 42 and an upper surface 45. An angle member 50 is disposed in the midway of the upper surface 45 of the second bending member 40. As best shown in FIG. 1, said angle member 50 extends horizontally the approximate length of the second bending member 40.

[0024] As shown in FIGS. 1-4, the angle member 50 projects upwardly from the upper surface 45 of the second bending member 40 and has a substantially v-angle configuration. Said angle member 50 formed by a first side 50A and a second side 50B, where each of said sides 50A and 50B having flat surfaces. As shown in the drawings, one end of each of said sides 50A and 50B are attached to the upper surface 45, and the opposite ends of each of said sides 50A, 50B attach to each other forming an angle apex 55 the approximate length of the second bending member 40.

[0025] The application of the bending apparatus 10 has generally a first position for loading the workpiece of sheet metal 100 and, intermediate and advanced positions for bending the sheet metal 100 into the gutter guard assembly 200. As will be described, the operation of the handle member 80 pivotally positions the second bending member 40 in relation to the stationary first bending member 20 thereby placing the bending apparatus 10 in one of said first, intermediate or advanced positions.

[0026] Referring to FIG. 2, is shown the apparatus 10 in an open position, wherein the axis of the handle member 80 is parallel with the axis of the leg portions 60. As further shown in FIG. 2, the workpiece of sheet metal 100 is resting in the receiving area 39 so that the sheet metal 100 is within the opening 35 between the upper surface 25 and the bar 32, and the end of the sheet metal 100 abuts the shoulder portion 37. When the workpiece of sheet metal 100 is positioned in the receiving area 39, the sheet metal 100 extends above the second bending member 40, and generally not in contact with the angle member 50 that projects upwardly from the upper surface 45.

[0027]FIG. 3 illustrates the bending apparatus 10 in the intermediate position during the bending process. Once the bending apparatus 10 is in the said first position, and the workpiece of sheet metal 100 inserted in the receiving area 39, the user simply lifts the handle member 80 in the direction of Arrow L in FIG. 2, thereby pivotally lifting the second bending member 40 until the axis of the handle member 80 is approximately perpendicular with the axis of the leg portions 60, as shown in FIG. 3. When the application of the bending apparatus 10 in the intermediate position begins, the angle apex 55 of the angle member 50 engages the workpiece of sheet metal 100 forming a curved bend C (shown in FIG. 3) in the workpiece of sheet metal 100. Formation of the curved bend C in the sheet metal 100 begins by pressing the sheet metal 100 against the cylindrical bar 32 and by continually lifting the handle member 80 to said approximate vertical position. At this point the sheet metal 100 is slightly less than 90 degrees around the cylindrical bar 32. In the application of the bending apparatus 10 in the intermediate position, that portion of the sheet metal 100 initially resting in the receiving area 39 remains stationary in the receiving area 39 while the balance of the sheet metal 100 is urged upward and approximately parallel with the vertical standing handle member 80 as shown in FIG. 3.

[0028] Referring to FIG. 4, advanced positions of the present invention forming a curved bend is shown. At the intermediate position shown in FIG. 3, the handle member 80 is lifted to an approximate vertical position, pressing the angle member 50 directly against the workpiece of sheet metal 100. In the advanced position, the user continues to pivot the handle member 80 in the direction of Arrow L in FIG. 3 pressing the sheet metal 100 against angle portion 55 at a point where the sheet metal 100 is bent at least 180 degrees of arc. At this point the sheet metal 100 has moved in relation to the angle member 50 so that the surface of the sheet metal 100 is in flush contact with the first side 50A of the angle member 50.

[0029] Referring now to FIG. 5, said gutter guard assembly 200 which has been formed by use of the present invention is shown. Said gutter guard assembly 200 including a flat end 210 and a curved end 220, said curved end formed by use of the present invention as described. In use, the flat end 210 of the gutter guard assembly 200 is inserted under the first row of shingles on said shingled roof, and the curved end 220 positioned near the outer lip of said rain gutter leaving a gap between the outer lip of the gutter and the curved end 220 for entry of rain water into the gutter.

[0030] The workpiece sheet metal 100 described herein is preferably fabricated from aluminum stock sheet. The inventors have found using extra or scrap aluminum left over from siding a house to be suitable for forming into the gutter guard assembly 200 as disclosed. To be useful, such extra or scrap aluminum need only have a width of approximately 5⅜ inches or more.

[0031] The above described components of the bending apparatus 10, namely the first bending member 20, the second bending member 40, the opposing end members 30 and cylindrical bar 32, the shoulder portion 37, the angle member 50, the leg portions 60, and the handle member 80 are preferably made of stainless steel.

[0032] Although the description above contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of a presently preferred embodiment of this invention. Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims in the formal application and their legal equivalents rather than by the examples given. 

We claim:
 1. A bending apparatus for manually bending pieces of material for forming a gutter guard assembly, said bending apparatus comprising: a first bending member having an upper surface, a first end and a second end of the upper surface, said first and said second end receiving a generally cylindrical bar, said bar parallel to and spaced from the first bending member, a shoulder on the upper surface adjacent to said cylindrical bar to define an opening, said opening adapted to receive an end portion of said material, a second bending member parallel to said cylindrical bar and hinged to said first bending member such that said opening will hold said piece of material as it is bent around said cylindrical bar to form a curved portion on said piece of material.
 2. The bending apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the second bending member includes an angle member having a first leg parallel to said cylindrical bar and a second leg.
 3. The bending apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one handle is attached to said second bending member.
 4. The bending apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said bending apparatus has a first position where a first portion of said second bending member is spaced from said cylindrical bar and substantially parallel to said first bending member and a second position where said first portion of said second bending member can contact said cylindrical bar.
 5. A portable sheet metal bending apparatus for manually bending pieces of sheet metal material for forming a ready to be installed gutter guard assembly between an outer lip of a rain gutter and a first row of shingles on a shingled roof, said bending apparatus comprising: a first bending member having a lower surface and an upper surface, a second bending member hinged to the first bending member, said second bending member having a lower surface and an upper surface, an at least two leg portions attached to opposing ends of the lower surface of the first bending member, at least one handle member attached to the second bending member, wherein the first bending member further comprising opposing end members disposed on substantially opposite ends of the upper surface of the first bending member, said opposing end members receiving a generally cylindrical bar, said bar positioned slightly higher than the first bending member defining an opening between the bar and the first bending member, said opening adapted to receive an end portion of said sheet metal, a shoulder portion disposed on the upper surface of the first bending member, said shoulder portion provided at the approximate juncture of where the bar extends over the first bending member.
 6. The bending apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein the second bending member further comprising an angle member disposed on the upper surface of the second bending member.
 7. A method for forming a gutter guard including the steps of: placing a metal sheet overlapping a hinge connecting a first bending member and a second bending member, sliding the metal sheet against a shoulder on the first bending member, manually pivoting said second bending member relative to said first bending member, bending a portion of said metal sheet around a cylindrical bar adjacent to said shoulder, releasing said metal sheet.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein said metal sheet is recovered scrap from siding a house.
 9. The method of claim 7, wherein the bending occurs manually using at least one handle attached to said second bending member.
 10. The method of claim 7, wherein the gutter guard is formed on site where it is to be used.
 11. A bending apparatus for bending pieces of material for forming a gutter guard assembly, said bending apparatus comprising: a fixed bending member having an upper surface, a first end and a second end of the upper surface, said first and said second end receiving a generally cylindrical bar, said bar parallel to and spaced from the fixed bending member, a shoulder on the upper surface adjacent to said cylindrical bar to define an opening, said opening adapted to receive an edge portion of said material, a pivot bending member parallel to said cylindrical bar and hinged to said fixed bending member such that said opening will hold said piece of material as it is bent around said cylindrical bar to form a curved portion on said piece of material.
 12. A bending apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein at least one handle is attached to said pivotal bending member for manually bending said pieces of material.
 13. The bending apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein the pieces of material are sheet aluminum.
 14. The bending apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein said bending apparatus has a first position where a first portion of said pivotal bending member is spaced from said cylindrical bar and substantially parallel to said fixed bending member and a second position where said first portion of said pivotal bending member contact traps a portion of said curved portion against said cylindrical bar.
 15. The bending apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein the curved portion on said piece of material is bent at least 180 degrees of arc. 